J.K. Standish papers, circa 1926-1959

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Standish, John K., 1903-1967
Title
J.K. Standish papers
Dates
circa 1926-1959 (inclusive)
Quantity
1 linear ft.
Collection Number
MC 429 (collection)
Summary
This collection consists mainly of the writings of J.K. Standish, a Montana newspaper man who wrote about Montana history. The collection includes rough draft manuscripts, news clippings, as well as correspondence between Standish and the son of Judge L.L. Callaway in regards to Callaway's own research and writing on Montana history.
Repository
Montana Historical Society, Library & Archives
Montana Historical Society Research Center Archives
225 North Roberts
PO Box 201201
Helena MT
59620-1201
Telephone: 4064442681
Fax: 4064445297
mhslibrary@mt.gov
Access Restrictions

Collection open for research.

Languages
English

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

John K. Standish was born in Halsey, Oregon, on June 20, 1903, the son of Daniel B. and Dora Standish. About 1915 the family homesteaded on land in Teton County, Montana, about 5 miles west of Power. In 1930 he was living in Red Lodge, Montana, with his wife Helen and two daughters: Margaret (age 3) and Patricia (age 1).

He worked for the Montana News Association in Great Falls from about 1931-1936. The MNA Inserts published numerous articles on George Armstrong Custer and other popular early Montana topics. Standish returned to Oregon. In the 1940s he was living at Klamath Falls.

John K. Standish died in Linn County, Oregon, on February 1, 1967.

Llewellyn L. Callaway was born on December 15, 1868. Llewellyn was educated at the University of Michigan and received a degree in law. He returned to Montana to practice in Virginia City and White Sulphur Springs. He was also a mayor of Virginia City and a justice of the Montana Supreme Court. In his spare time he wrote on the history of the state. His intentions were to publish the material, but when he realized he would be unable to do so, he handed his papers off to John Standish. He died August 8, 1951.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection is divided into two subgroups: J.K. Standish Papers, and Judge L.L. Callaway Papers. The the J.K. Standish subgroup includes two series, writings and clippings. Writings makes up the bulk of the collection and includes typed manuscript rough drafts (with edits) focusing mainly on territorial era Montana history ranging from short articles to full length manuscripts. Short stories and opinion pieces are also included. The clippings consist of two folders of Montana News Association Inserts articles. The second subgroup includes material relating to the writings of Judge L.L. Callaway and is divided into two series, correspondence and writings. The Correspondence series (1956-1958) includes letters between Standish and Judge Callaway's son, L.L. Callaway Jr. discussing the publishing of his father's research. Also included in the folder are news articles written by Standish relaying the stories of Callaway, published in the 1930s. Notes written on the articles suggest he used them as guides in the publishing of a book. The Writings series includes two copies of what appears to be the same manuscript.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

RESTRICTION: Literary rights and copyrights are undetermined. Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of the Montana Historical Society. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collection. In some cases permission for use may require additional authorization from the copyright owners. For more information contact an archivist.

Preferred Citation

Item description and date. Collection Title. Collection Number. Box and Folder numbers. Montana Historical Society Research Center, Archives, Helena, Montana.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

The collection is broken into two subgroups, which are arranged by series. The J.K. Standish subgroup consists of two series: 1. writings (see file plan for more); 2. clippings (chronological). The L.L. Callaway subgroup is arranged by two series: 1. correspondence (chronological); 2. writings (chronological).

Location of Collection

91:2-4

Acquisition Information

Acquisition information available upon request.

Processing Note

This collection is made up of combining an existing collection with a new acquisition in 2017. The initial accruals was originally processed into SC 1427. This material was combined with the second acquisition to create this collection.

Related Materials

A number of J.K. Standish's articles are cited in the Index to Montana News Association Inserts.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

J.K. StandishReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Writings
Box/Folder
1 / 1
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: Grand Tetons, "William 'Flipping Bill' Cantrell and Montana's Last Vigilantes", "Sheephearder's Grave", Hugh Monroe, "Kit Carson, Paragon of Frontiersmen", "Amazing Adventures of Hugh Glass", "The Swan Land & Cattle Company", Musselshell Country & Cattlemen, Cattle Industry, "Aleck Swan and the Swan Land and Cattle Company", "Organization of Range Cattle Business in Eastern Montana", "The Cheyenne Club Members Were Men Who Became Famous in National Affair", "How Mexico Came Under Spanish Rule in the Sixteenth Century", "Baker's Massacre on Marias River Disgrace to U.S. Army", "Bents Fort, Oldest and Largest of Fur Trading Post of Great Plains", "Historic Santa Fe Trail was Greatest Highway of Commerce West of Mississippi", "Overland Mail Route of 60's Spanned Wilderness and Was Mighty Influence in Pushing Back Frontiers"
 undated
1 / 2
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "Fort Phil Kearny Stood Siege by Indian Hordes Two Years", "Historic Santa Fe", Alexander Majors, Conrad Kohrs, "John Clay, Founder of Present Day Livestock Commissioner Firm, Pioneered West with Industry in Hectic Days", Cattle Industry, "Pierre Raisson was Greatest Empire Builder and Explorer of Frenchmen in Far West", "Free Trappers Explored Far West and Blazed Trails for Gold Seekers and Government Explorers", "Arrapoosh was One of Crow's Greatest Chiefs", Frederick S. Remington
 undated
1 / 3
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "Swanson, the Swede, Won at Snap Faro, but Left His Roll of $5,560", Justice Hezekiah L. Hosmer (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), Martha Edgerton Plassmann writing on Col. Wilber Fisk Sanders and Leonard A. Gridley, Henry Plummer, "Thomas J. Dimsdale & 'The Vigilantes of Montana'", "Judge William Y. Pemberton, Vigilante, Played Important Role in Establishing Law and Order", "Judge Francis M. Thompson was Friend of Henry Plummer" (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), "Spectacular Death of Pizanthia, Days After Plummer's Execution" (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), "Bummer Dan", "Pioneer Historian Recalls Seeing Ned Ray, Henry Plummer, and Other Road Agents When She was Young Lady in Bannack", "Another Version of George Ives' Trial and Lawyers Took Defended the Accused", "George Ives Double-crossed Road Agents to Save Milton After Moody's Life After He Befriended His Sweetheart", "Mystery of Henry Plummer's Wife Solved After Many Years" (written by Martha Edgerton Plassmann), Bannack, Plummer & Road Agents, "X. Beidler, Evangelist to the Road Agents of Montana" (written by Matt W. Alderson), "Hangman's Graveyard" (Virginia City), George Ives, "Beaverhead County Records Reveals Some of Sheriff Henry Plummer's Activities in Office", "Col. Wilbur Sanders' Experience with Road Agents: Sheriff Henry Plummer and Jack Gallaher" (written by Col. William F. Sanders
 undated
1 / 4
Typed Rough Draft Manuscripts, Topics and Titles Include: "How the LaVerendryes, Canadian Voyagers and Explorers, Searching for a Passage to a Mysterious Western Sea, Discovered the Rocky Mountains", John Clay, Rustlers, "Overland Mail Route of the 60's Spanned Wilderness and was Mighty Influence in Pushing Back Frontiers", "Horse Revolutionized Life of Indians on Plains", "A Romance of the Old Range Days", "Teddy Roosevelt was Not a 'Tenderfoot' In the Badlands of the Dakotas"
 undated
1 / 5
"Captain John Albert Slade -- The Doctor Jekly and Mr. Hyde of Early West"
 undated
1 / 6
Typed Rough Drafts Short Stories & Opinion Pieces
 undated
1 / 7
Assorted Writings on American Indian Early Interaction with Whites
 undated
1 / 8
Assorted Writings on Bannack & Vigilante Activities
 undated
1 / 9
Assorted Writings on Bitter Root Valley
 undated
2 / 1
Assorted Writings on Cattle Industry
 undated
2 / 2
Assorted Writings on Kid Curry, Calamity Jane, Swanson the Swede
 undated
2 / 3
Assorted Miscellaneous Writings
 undated
2 / 4
Assorted Non-Montana Writings
 undated
2 / 5
Assorted Short Stories
 undated
2 / 6
Montana History
 undated
2 / 7
Battle of Little Bighorn, Derived from Diaries & Writings of General Edward S. Godfry circa 1933 author unknown
 circa 1933
2 / 8
Battle of Little Big Horn incl. Transcript of Diary of Mark Kellog, Bismark Tribune Correspondent, author unknown
 undated
2 / 9
"Excerpts from "Then & Now" re: Battle of Little Big Horn (1900)"
 1900
Clippings
Box/Folder
2 / 10
Re: Custer & the Battle of Little Big Horn [From Montana News Inserts]
 1926, 1929, undated
3 / 1
Clippings
 undated

Judge L.L. CallawayReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Correspondence
Box/Folder
3 / 2
"Judge Callaway Correspondence Bazel, Baptise Charbonneau" [Letters between J. K. Standish and L. L. Callaway Jr re: Works of Judge Callaway]
 1956-1958
Writings
Box/Folder
3 / 3
Writing on Early Montana History, by L.L. Callaway
 1956-1958
3 / 4
"Captain James Williams...", by John Standish
undated

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Cattle trade--Montana
  • Electroencephalography
  • Little Bighorn, Battle of the, Mont., 1876

Personal Names

  • Callaway, Llewellyn Link, 1868-1951
  • Custer, George A., (George Armstrong), 1839-1876
  • Plassmann, Martha Edgerton, 1850-1936
  • Standish, John K., 1903-1967 (creator)

Corporate Names

  • Montana News Association

Geographical Names

  • Bannack (Mont.)--History
  • Non-discriminatory
  • Virginia City (Mont.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • manuscripts

Occupations

  • Historian
  • Journalists--Montana

Finding aid prepared by Anneliese Warhank
2016

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